HAVING made a welcome return to the Goresbridge calendar after an absence of several years, Saturday’s sale of foals and breeding stock was generally well supported.

Boasting a €15,000 sale-topper, and a further four lots in excess of €5,000, the trade would be described as strong in parts, but tricky in others. The resulting figures illustrating a 54% clearance, together with an average of €2,273 and there were plenty of buyers on hand for the foal with the right credentials.

One who certainly ticked all the boxes was Pat Finn’s beautifully presented and aptly named FSH Phenomenal (Lot 345), a precocious and independent colt by Chacco Blue out of the KWPN registered mare Elandra, by the thoroughbred Coconut Grove.

Very well-related and well-prepped by Pakie Whelan, he is already a sibling to two horses at 1.20m level and bearing a pedigree full of 1.60m horses, is out of a sister to Ben Maher’s World Cup performer Don Vito (1.60m), as well as the James Billington-partnered stallion Baltic VDL (1.60m) and Zilver Pomme (1.50m).

Explaining how he came across the dam, Oranmore, Co Galway-based Finn commented: “I originally bought an embryo out of the mare, then I bought the mare herself. She has top breeding on both sides of the pedigree and I [am] extremely happy with the price here today.”

Accompanied by his equally enthusiastic grandson Aaron, Finn disclosed the dam is now in foal to Tangelo.

Slow to come on the market, he was eventually secured by showman, breeder and judge Andrew Gardiner, who was charged with assessing the foal and buying on behalf of Ballina show jumping owner, Brian O’Mahoney. “I liked everything about him,” said Gardiner. “He was a lovely blood foal, with a good step and nice pedigree.”

Although nothing came close to matching the top price, there were several other notables. Eamon Kelly’s potential broodmare/jumper Pretty Blue (Lot 337), a filly by Zirocco Blue looked well-bought by Pat Fenlon (on behalf of Richie Kirwan) at €7,000, as did Simon McCarthy’s lovely colt Cushinstown Royale (Lot 353), by Another Pleasure, who was knocked down to Niall Smyth and Richard Sheane for €6,100.

Shane Connolly’s eye-catching roan filly CSF Harmony (Lot 363), by Dorian Grey, was snapped up by Sean Walsh for €5,000 and, achieving the same amount, was Michael Stuart’s HHS Cornet-sired Killaloe Something Special (Lot 390).

Less satisfactorily, 13 of the 42 lots sold, realised less that €1,000 (including yearlings and mares).

Top foal returns

  • Pat Finn’s FSH Phenomenal, colt foal by Chacco Blue (dam by Coconut Grove XX) €15,000.
  • Eamon Kenny’s Pretty Blue, filly foal by Zirocco Blue (dam by Indoctro) €7,000.
  • Simon McCarthy’s Cushinstown Royale, colt foal by Another Pleasure (dam by Cavalier Royale) €6,100.
  • Shane Connolly’s CSF Harmony, filly foal by Dorian Grey (dam by Harley VDL) €5,000.
  • Michael Stuart’s Killaloe Something Special, colt foal by HHS Cornet (dam by Plot Blue) €5,000.

    • Broodmare and foal